Combination exhaust suction and radiator cooling fan



Aug. SO, 1966 A. M. CADDELL.

COMBINATION EXHAUST SUCTION AND RADIATOR COOLING FAN Filed Nov. 17, 1964INVENRO: W4

OOOOOOOOOOOOO United States Patent 3,269,110 COMBINATION EXHAUST SUCTIONAND RADIATOR COOLING FAN Alfred M. Caddell, Philadelphia, Pa. (908Amosland Road, Prospect Park, Pa. 19076) Filed Nov. 17, 1964, Ser. No.411,866 6 Claims. (Cl. 6032) The primary object of this invention is tocombine in a fan assembly the functions of drawing cooling air through aradiator and, at the same time, effect suction of exhaust gas from aninternal combustion engine for explusion to atmosphere.

A second object is to speedily reduce the temperature of the gas andthus maintain a high degree of vacuum in the exhaust system to promotethorough scavenging of the gas, followed by a full air-fuel charge thatgreatly increases volumetric efiic-iency.

A third object is to speedily reduce the temperature of the gas to robit of its ability to create voids in the air, the closing of which voidsby atmospheric pressure causes the exhaust noise.

A fourth object is to make available a compact, easily accessibleexhaust system close to the engine itself.

A fifth object is to make available a radiator having a funnel-shapedduct extending therethrough for making cooling air available to theexhaust gas delivery means prior to entry of the gas into the fanassembly.

A sixth object is to minimize the size of a radiator necessary to effectcooling of an engine.

Other objects and advantages inherent in this invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view, looking downward, of a conventional V-8 engine havingstacks leading from each cylinder into a collector manifold forconveying exhaust gas into a drum, which drum houses bearing assembliesand associated functional means and on which the combination exhaustsuction and radiator cooling fan is mounted. Also shown is a radiatorwith connecting fluid-carrying hoses and a funnel-shaped aperture in theradiator for direct air-cooling of the manifold extension.

FIG. 2 is a view of the exhaust suction and air-cooling fan assembly andthe collector ring, partly in cross section, for receiving the gasdischarged from the nozzles on the tips of the hollow fan blades.

FIG. 3 is a view of a spoke-like means for supporting the exhaustreceiving collector ring.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the drum showing the manifold extension,the gas-receiving compartment, the base of the fan assembly, the bearingwheel assemblies and bracket supporting means.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the bearing wheel shown mounted in FIGS. 4 and9.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the wheel referred to in the previousparagraph, wherein is shown the groove in the periphery of the wheel formaintaining alignment as it travels around the circumferential trackformed on ring 12, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sidewise view of one of the hollow fan blades.This view shows the horn-like type of discharge nozzle welded to the tipof the blade for creating centrifugal suction and directional dischargeof the exhaust gas into the collector ring. Also, the band forpreventing air thrown radially off the blade entering the collectorring. The air-attack side of the blade is broken away to show theinterior and trailing side thereof.

FIG. 8 is a view of the same blade, locking upward from its base, toshow the opening that matches with the opening in the hollow hub and theopening in the wall of the drum to permit entry of the exahust gas fromthe gas-receiving compartment into the blade.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional frontal view of the drum, showingcastings 17 mounted thereupon, which castings carry bearing wheels 14that space the drum per se from track 13 and other associated stationarymeans secured to manifold extension 9.

FIG. 10 is a three-quarter, half-circular view of the drum, showing thecastings for carrying the bearing wheels and louvers formed through thewall of the drum to permit centrifugal throw to atmosphere of the airthat picks up heat from manifold extension 9.

FIG. 11 is a three-quarter, half-circular view of a supporting tubularconduit having one closed and one open end and identified as 10, FIGS. 4and 9, through which conduit may be observed a multiplicity of holes forthe passage therethrough of air that picks up heat from the area aroundmanifold extension 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, fan assembly 1 is superimposed upon drum 2.This drum is removably secured on the end of crankshaft 3 of engine 4 bymeans of :plate 5 which is keyed at 5A, shown in FIG. 4. Plate 5, inturn, is removably secured to drum 2 by screw bolts 6, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

Drum 2 and fan assembly 1, being connected to crankshaft 3, rotate atengine crankshaft speed, the fan assem bly maintaining a constantsuction pull on the exhaust side of the engine and clearing thecylinders of what otherwise would be exhaust residuals that vitiate theincoming air-fuel charges. In most engines having conventional exhaustsystems, including mufilers, these residuals amount to upwards of 20percent of a cylinders volume and the retention thereof in the cylindersprevents full charge of fresh air-fuel mixture entering on the inductionstroke; which thwarting condition translates into a constant and mostserious loss of power for which the herein described centrifugal suctionof the exhaust is designed to correct.

As will be noted in FIG. 1, stacks 7 convey the exhaust gas from theirrespective cylinders to manifold 8 which, in turn, conveys it intomanifold extension 9. For simplicity of manufacture and assembly, thesections that comprise the manifold system are made secure to each otherby flanges 8A, FIGS. 1 and 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, manifold extension 9 conveys the exhaust gasinto compartment 20 which is bounded therearound by drum wall 2, and byend wall 2A and by plate 21, which may be secured by any suitable meansto the inner wall of drum 2. Aperture 22 is formed in plate 21 for theprotrusion therethrough of manifold extension 9 from which the exhaustgas is discharged into compartment 20. Inasmuch as drum 2, includingplate 21, rotate, sufiicient tolerance between plate 21 and manifoldextension 9 must necessarily be allowed at this aperture.

Tubular conduit 10 is spaced concentrically around manifold extension 9by means of spacer assembly 11 at the forward end and at its rear by anintegrally formed end wall, which end wall fits sungly around themanifold extension to maintain alignment and offer support thereto. Apair of rings 12 are machined to form press-fits on the outer surface ofthis conduit, and are further machined to form elevated tracks 13,around which grooved bearing wheels 14 rotate to provide precision,though freely movable, contact between the rotatable drum and thestationary constructions secured to the manifold extension. As shown inFIG. 11, a multiplicity of holes 10A are made available between rings12, said holes extending through the circular wall of conduit 10 toprovide throughfiow of air that enters between spacer assembly 11 to thearea surrounding manifold extension 9. This spacer assembly may beremovably secured to the inner wall of conduit and to the manifoldextension by slip fit or other appropriate means.

In the passage into the area surrounding the manifold extension theconstant flow of cooling air absorbs heat by convection from the hotextension carrying the exhaust gas, thus greatly reducing the tempertureof the gas before it is discharged into compartment after which thecooling air, now heated, is thrown centrifugally through holes 10A andthen through louvers 23 which are formed in the wall of drum 2 to permitradial discharge of the heated air to atmosphere. These louvers areequi-spaced and are so constructed as to induce a centrifugal pumpeffect on this air, thus assisting greatly in maintaining sensibleoperating temperatures within the drum and assuring long life to thebearing wheels.

Radiator 37 is shown, as in FIG. 1, mounted forwardly of manifoldextension 9. To assist in direct cooling thereof funnel-shaped duct 24is built into the radiator struc ture. This duct permits unrestrictedflow of cooling air from atmosphere and, if the engine is mounted in aforwardly moving vehicle, duct 24 would assure maximum ram pressureeffect.

A pair of casting 17 provide the means for supporting bearing wheels 14.As indicated in FIG. 10, and as shown by the mounting of the wheels inFIG. 9, apertures 25 are formed through castings 17 and the wall of drum2 to accommodate the reception therethrough of the wheels. Bolts 15serve as'axles that extend through holes 16 in elevated sections 17A ofcastings 17 and through the hub of wheels 14, around which an assemblyof bearings is embedded therein. Castings 17 are superimposed on andmade secure to drum 2 by press-fit means, as indicated in FIGS. 9 and10. And inasmuch as the bearing wheels rotate both within and outsidethe confines of drum 2, concentrically formed shield caps 26, FIGS. 4and 9, protect the portions of the wheels that are momentarily outsidethe drum from possible damage. These caps may be made of any suitablematerial, such, as a plastic composition. They are removably secured tocastings 17 by bolts 27.

Exhaust-suction-cooling-air fan assembly 1 is comprised of aconcentrically formed hollow hub from which a plurality of equi-spacedfan blades radially extend. Prior to the mounting of assembly 1, aseries of slots, such as is shown at 2B, FIG. 4, will have been formedthrough the wall of drum 2. Likewise, a series of slots, such as at IE,will have been formed through the hollow hub of the fan assembly.Similarly, slots 1C will have been formed in the base of the blades, asis shown in FIG. 8, all such slots matching with each other to permit athroughflow channel to exist from compartment 20 through the hollowblades 1D to the discharge ends of nozzles 1B. A circular band 1F, shownsingly in FIG. 7 and as a complete band in FIG. 2, is secured to each ofthe nozzles adjacent the tips of blades 1D to prevent air thrownradially off said blades to enter travelway 13B of collector ring 18, asis shown in FIG. 1.

Fan assembly 1 is precisionally mounted on drum 2 by key or screw boltmeans, neither of which is shown, in order that the aforesaid slots maybe maintained in precision alignment.

Fan blades 1D, FIGS. 2 and 7, have an air attack and a trailing sidespaced from each other to provide a hollow passageway therebetween.These sides match perfectly on their edges and may be welded orotherwise secured to each other thereat. Horn-type nozzle 1E, shown inFIGS. 1 and 7, has a 90-degree bend on its exit end to direct thedischarge of exhaust gas rearwardly within the confines of collectorring 18. This nozzle may be secured to the tip end of blade ID bywelding means, as in FIG. 7.

Collector ring 18 is supported by spoke-assembly 28, FIG. 3, alsopartially shown in FIG. 4. This assembly is removably secured bybrackets 29 to supporting member 30, FIG. 1. This member is secured byscrew engagement and lock nut means to boss 31 on engine 4 and, as alsoshown in FIG. 1, by screw engagement and lock nut means to collar 32which encompasses manifold extension 9, lending support thereto. Spokeassembly 28 is comprised of a collar to which spokes 28B may be securedby any appropriate means, such as welding. Collar 28 encircles but isconcentrically spaced from drum 2.

Collector ring 18 is of round construction as shown in FIG. 1 andpartially shown in FIG. 2 and, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, merges into duct 33that extends toward the rear of the engine where it is connected toblower 35 which speeds the discharge of the exhaust gas to atmosphere.Duct 33 is secured to the collector ring by means of flanges 34. Theblower may be operated by 12 volts and in case of a V-8 engine, as isherein shown, another blower may be utilized to handle the output of gasexpeditiously.

Obviously, collector ring 18 has an outer and an inner circumferentialside. To permit entrance of nozzles 1E into the confines of ring 18, acircumferential travelway is provided in this inner side, as shown at18D, FIG. 1.

Although not part of this invention, belt pulley 36, which is ordinarilymounted on the crankshaft of an engine to turn the water pump, generatorand fan, is shown in both FIGS. 1 and 4. Conceivably, this pulley or aspecially provided one, may be utilized to effect rotation of the drumwhich carries the fan assembly, instead of the drum being mounted, aspresently shown in FIG. 1, directly on the crankshaft.

Also, while not a direct part of this invention, radiator 37 is shown,as is also fluid hoses 38 for conveying cooling fluid to and from theengine, the fluid thus being used being cooled by the herein describedfan assembly to make the engine operable.

An outstanding by-product, or feature, of this invention is the factthat an internal combustion engine equipped with this combinationexhaust suction and air cooling fan gives promise of being unusuallyquiet. Tests have definitely shown that when the exhaust gas is cooledto about degrees F. it lacks the energy that would otherwise beavailable to puncture holes in the air, thereby creating partialvacuums. The closing of these vacuums by the surrounding wall ofatmospheric pressure air causes the well-known thunder-clap noises. Thecombination fan, therefore, becomes an effective silencer in its ownright.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, afluid-type radiator open to atmosphere and having fluid connection withsaid engine, said engine having a crankshaft extending toward saidradiator, a combination exhaust suction and radiator cooling fanassembly located between the engine and said radiator, a rotatable drumhaving connection with said crankshaft, a compartment formed in saiddrum and a manifold system for conveying exhaust gas from the cylindersof the engine to said compartment, said fan assembly being mounted onthe periphery of said drum and being comprised of a .hollow hub and aplurality of hollow blades extending radially therefrom, said bladeshaving a discharge nozzle secured on their tips, said hub and saidblades having open communication with said compartment for effectingcentrifugal suction of said exhaust gas therefrom and said blades havinga pitch for drawing cool ing air through said radiator simultaneouslywith the suction of said gas, a collector ring mounted to receive thegas from said nozzles and a duct merging with said ring for conveyingsaid gas to atmosphere.

2. In combination,, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having aforward and a rear end, a crankshaft extending forwardly from saidforward end, a plate removably secured to said crankshaft, an assembleddrum removably secured to said plate for rotation therewith, said drumbeing comprised of a cylindrical wall having a closed end and an endopen to atmosphere, a compartment in said drum formed by said closed endand a plate spaced forwardly therefrom and made secure within said drum,a centrally located aperture formed in said plate, a manifold extendingforwardly from said engine for conveying exhaust gas dischargedtherefrom, a flangeiconnected extension of said manifold formed toextend into said drum for delivering the gas through said aperture intosaid compartment, said drum housing a tubular conduit having a closedand an open end concentrically spaced from said manifold extension toprovide a spacious area therebetween, an assembly comprised of ringsspaced by a plurality of spokes for allowing air to enter said area,said conduit having a multiplicity of holes through the wall thereof,said conduit having a central opening for encompassing said extension onts closed end and on the open to atmosphere being spaced from saidextension by said latter assembly, means for securing said latterassembly to said extension and to said conduit, louvers formed in thewall of said drum to permit the passage therethrough of aircentrifugally thrown through said holes from said spacious area.

3. In an assembled drum as described in claim 2, a pair ofconcentrically formed rings fixedly mounted upon said conduit, a beveledtrack formed on the periphery of each of said rings, a pair of castingssuperimposed upon the wall of said drum, matching apertures formedthrough said castings and through said wall in a line perpendicular toeach of said tracks, a plurality of wheels having bearings embeddedaround their hubs and having grooves formed in their peripheries tomatch the bevel of said tracks, said wheels being removably supported bysaid castings for freely revolving around and being equally spaced fromeach other around said tracks, said wheels partially protrudingoutwardly through said apertures during their revolutions, coversremovably secured to the wall of said drum for protecting that portionof the wheels momentarily extending outwardly therefrom.

4. In combination, a multi-cylinder'internal combustion engine having aforward and a rear end, a fluid-type radiator open to atmosphere andhaving fluid connection with said engine and being mounted forwardlytherefrom, said engine having a crankshaft extending from its forwardend, an assembled drum having connection with said crankshaft forobtaining rotation therefrom, a gas-receiving compartment formed withinsaid drum, said engine having a stack leading from each of its cylindersand merging into a manifold extending forwardly beyond the enginesforward end, a flange-connected extension of said manifold extendinginto said drum for conveying exhaust gas discharged from said engineinto said receiving compartment, a funnel-shaped aperture formed in saidradiator opposite said manifold extension and open to atmosphere at itswidest diameter, a fan comprised of a hollow hub having mountedthereupon a plurality of hollow blades extending radially therefrom,each blade having a horn-type nozzle secured at the tip thereof and apitch for drawing air from atmosphere through said radiator, a bracketremovably secured to said engine and extending forward to support saidmanifold extension, an exhaust gas collector ring supported by anassembly of spoke-like members based in a hub spaced from said drum andsecured to said engine, said fan being peripherally mounted upon saiddrum on that part of the drum wall forming the radial boundary of saidcompartment, openings in said part, openings in the hub of said fan andopenings in the base of said blades, said openings matching each otherto form a passageway from said compartment to the discharge end of saidnozzles for the centrifugal throw therethrough of said exhaust gas intosaid collector ring.

5. A collector ring as described in claim 4, said ring having an innerand an outer peripheral side, a circumferential travelway provided insaid inner side to a ccom modate the extension of said nozzles to Withinthe confines of said ring, said ring merging into a duct for theconveyance of exhaust gas toward the rear of said engine, a blowerhaving connection with the terminus of said duct for accelerating theflow of said gas and speeding its discharge to atmosphere.

6. A combination exhaust suction and cooling fan as described in claim4, said fan having a plurality of blades formed integrally with a hollowhub and extending radially therefrom, each blade having an air attackand a trailing side, said sides being spaced from each other to form apassageway therebetween, said sides being contoured to match each otherat their edges and being joined thereat to form an integrated whole,said blades having a pitch for drawing air from atmosphere through thespaces in said radiator and blowing it over said engine, a nozzlesecured to the tips of said blades and extending radially therefrom intothe confines of said collector ring, a band secured to each of saidnozzles adjacent said blade tips for preventing air thrown radially fromsaid blades to enter said collector ring, said nozzles having acurvature at their radial ends for directing the discharge of saidexhaust gas toward the rear of said engine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,442 10/1917 Frazier -32 1,730,117 10/1929 Brownrigg 60-32 MARK NEWMAN, PrimaryExaminer.

R. D. BLAKESLEE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, AFLUID-TYPE RADIATOR OPEN TO ATMOSPHERE AND HAVING FLUID CONNECTION WITHSAID ENGINE, SAID ENGINE HAVING A CRANKSHAFT EXTENDING TOWARD SAIDRADIATOR, A COMBINATION EXHAUST SUCTION AND RADIATOR COOLING FANASSEMBLY LOCATED BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND SAID RADIATOR, A ROTATABLE DRUMHAVING CONNECTION WITH SAID CRANKSHAFT, A COMPARTMENT FORMED IN SAIDDRUM AND A MANIFOLD SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING EXHAUST GAS FROM THE CYLINDERSOF THE ENGINE TO SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID FAN ASSEMBLY BEING MOUNTED ONTHE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM AND BEING COMPRISED OF A HOLLOW HUB AND APLURALITY OF HOLLOW BLADES EXTENDING RADIALLY THEREFROM, SAID BLADESHAVING A DISCHARGE NOZZLE SECURED ON THEIR TIPS, SAID HUB AND SAIDBLADES HAVING OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID COMPARTMENT FOR EFFECTINGCENTRIFUAL SUCTION OF SAID EXHAUST GAS THEREFROM AND SAID BLADES HAVINGA PITCH FOR DRAWING COOLING AIR THROUGH SAID RADIATOR SIMULTANEOUSLYWITH THE SUCTION OF SAID GAS, A COLLECTOR RING MOUNTED TO RECEIVE THEGAS FROM SAID NOZZLES AND A DUCT MERGING WITH SAID RING FOR CONVEYINGSAID GAS TO ATMOSPHERE.